In recent years, Thailand has opened its doors to more tourists as it provides more amenities and other forms of attractions for kids as well as adults. Tourists as well as local shoppers have a lot to look forward to, as there are a number of excellent shopping malls in Thailand, each of which offers remarkable convenience as well as overall shopping experience.

Here are some of the best Thailand shopping malls as well as their corresponding features that people can look forward to when visiting the country.

Central World, Bangkok

Owned by Central Patanna, this mall is the third largest shopping complex in the world. Its layout is primarily inspired by street mall concept, which allows people to scope out more storefronts immediately. Apart from the stores that sell apparel, shoes, furniture, appliances, and all the usual products one can expect from a mall, Central Word also has an ice skating rink and play zone for kids.

The Genius Planet Zone and Thailand Knowledge Park are two of the most popular attractions for kids in all of Bangkok as both feature some of the most amazing displays and facts about the physical world. Parents and kids alike are fond of this mall since it has almost everything they could ever want, and then some.

Central Festival Pattaya Beach Mall

This mall houses millions of products ranging from consumer goods, i.e. apparel, shoes, household supplies, gadgets, furniture, to other miscellaneous items. In addition to the countless stores that would make any consumerist tourist’s head spin, this mall is also popular because it stays later than most other shopping establishments around Pattaya.

The layout of this mall is straightforward but the sheer number of stores is staggering, which is why it attracts hundreds of thousands of shoppers in a daily basis.

Terminal 21 Bangkok

This mall’s layout is inspired by a 21st century airport and has one of the unique personalities as far as shopping establishments go. The basement is one of the most impressive parts of this mall with its Mediterranean theme and a collection of takeout restaurants.

This haven for food lovers definitely changes people’s conception of mall cuisine. For those who have rather discriminating palates, this is the perfect venue to indulge their most sinful cravings.

Pier 21 on the 5th floor of this mall is by far the most popular places to get succulent and satisfying Asian dishes in all of Thailand. Apart from the diversity of its menu, Pier 21 also provides convenience and affordability to budget conscious consumers.

Thailand has borders with Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia. It is landlocked to the north but has a long coastline to the south bordering onto the Gulf of Thailand to the south and east, and the Andaman sea to the west – where the major tourist resort of Phuket and neighbouring islands are to be found.

It was the south that was badly affected by the tsunami surge wave that hit six provinces in 2004 resulting in five thousand deaths and eight thousand injuries. The country’s major industries include tourism and IT, electronics, and vehicle manufacturing. According to the Foreign Office Thailand’s economy made a good recovery from the Asian financial crisis in 1997 with average annual growth of around 6 per cent between 2002 and 2004.

Rising oil prices caused inflation to increase to six per cent in the first quarter of 2006. The Bank of Thailand reacted by raising the short term interest rates. The Foreign Office rates Thailand’s human rights record as ‘generally good’.

Demonstrations for or against past governments were common and recent large scale street protests had passed off peacefully.

However, political activities are currently banned, as are groups of demonstrations involving more than five people. The Foreign Office rates the threat if terrorism throughout Thailand as ‘high’. Attacks could be indiscriminate and against civilian targets in public places including those places frequented by foreigners. The ‘fluid border’ with Burma is also a potential problem with large numbers of refugees, illegal immigrants and drugs crossing into Thailand. Relations with Cambodia have also caused concerns in the past.

The Foreign Office also warns visitors that penalties for possession, distribution or manufacture of drugs are severe and can include the death penalty, which the Thai Government has used as a high profile part of its fight against drugs.

‘There has been a number of incidents where tourists have had their drinks drugged (in both tourist areas and red light districts)’. British passport holders may enter Thailand for up to thirty days, without obtaining a visa in advance of arrival. Longer stays require an extension.